ODI snub doesn’t shake Varun Chakaravarthy: ‘I back myself in every format’

ODI snub doesn’t shake Varun Chakaravarthy (AP Photo)

Despite his stellar Champions Trophy campaign, mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy downplayed the noise that he was left out of India's squad for the forthcoming ODI series against Australia, stating that he understood the selection process. Varun played a major role in India's Champions Trophy victory earlier this year.

India's 15-man squad for Australia ODIs, captained by Shubman Gill, includes three spinners: Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar. Two members of the Champions Trophy team, Varun and Ravindra Jadeja, were left out.

Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of the selection committee, explaining the rationale after naming the team stated that a three-match series does not allow for much experimentation. He also mentioned that India would not require more than three spin-bowling options for a series in Australia.

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"I expect to be in every team but it's up to the selectors to think what they are thinking. Maybe the pitches there (in Australia) offer less chance. If you see in the Champions Trophy also I was brought in as a replacement for Yashasvi Jaiswal," Varun noted on Tuesday while attending the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards in Mumbai.

"So it just depends on the conditions. I can feel anything but what the pitches demand is totally another thing," he said, adding that the team's recent success has been largely attributed to the players' and management's open communication.

In three games at the Champions Trophy, Varun claimed nine wickets, including a five-wicket haul. Varun, a T20I specialist, was a surprising addition to India's ODI campaign and the move to strengthen their spin assault paid off well.

After talking with Gautam Gambhir about his chances of playing in ODIs, Varun gave his thoughts on the coach's specific areas for development. "Basically, the conversations were around bowling longer spells. Because in T20, you maximum bowl two overs back-to-back. But in ODI, you have to bowl five to six overs back-to-back, which I did work on and I was able to do it in the Champions Trophy."

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Varun disclosed that Gambhir urged him to concentrate on his batting in addition to bowling to increase his chances of being selected for ODIs. "Nothing much, and definitely, he wants me to bat a little more up the order in the domestic circuit and improve on my batting."

Varun, who had been out of the Indian T20I team for three years, credited working under Gambhir for a large portion of his comeback. And because of his exploits in important events he is once again a mainstay in India's T20I bowling attack.

Varun played a key role in India's undefeated campaign in the Asia Cup, which included three victories over Pakistan. He registered seven scalps at an economy rate of 6.50.

Varun will next be seen in the five-match T20I series in Australia, which will be played from October 29 to November 8.